Common Butterfly-weed Asclepias tuberosa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- as-KLEE-pee-as too-ber-OH-sah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Butterfly weed is a tuberous-rooted, native, herbaceous perennial in the Apocynaceae, or dogbane, family. Its Latin genus name, Asclepias, honors the Greek god of medicine, Asklepios. The species name, tuberosa, refers to the root. The plant is upright, typically growing in clumps 1 to 3 feet tall, and is found in dry, rocky open woods, glades, prairies, fields, and roadsides. Unlike many of the other milkweeds, this species does not have milky-sapped stems.
The plant is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. It is drought tolerant, moderately salt tolerant, and does well in poor, dry soils. The plant grows easily from seed, but expect that it will take two to three years to establish and produce flowers. Mature plants may freely self-seed in the landscape if seed pods are not removed prior to splitting open. Butterfly weed does not transplant well due to its deep taproot and is probably best left undisturbed once established.
Milkweed is a great choice for a meadow garden, with showy yellow-orange flower clusters topping its upright stems. Pair it with other plants like native, ornamental grasses and wildflowers, such as asters and purple coneflowers, to a create a butterfly habitat. In a perennial border, pair it with torch lilies or with cooler blues and purples, such as speedwell plants. This plant was selected as the 1985 NC Wildflower of the Year. Also a food source for larvae of Monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterfly the as well as the Milkweed Tussock moth (Euchaetes Egle).
Be sure to wear gloves as the milky sap can cause contact dermatitis.
Quick ID Hints:
- Erect, perennial herb has spiraling narrow leaves
- Axillary cymes of orange flowers are flat topped
- Flowers have a corona of a hood and horn
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is mostly pest free. Aphids may cluster at the top of the plant. To remedy this problem, knock them off with a strong spray of water every two or three days for a week. Crown rot can occur in wet, poorly drained soils. It is also susceptible to rust and leaf spot.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Vegetable, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden Pinehurst Greenway Pollinator Habitat Garden, Moore County HOA Butterfly Garden in Brunswick County Herb & Flower Cottage Garden Beehive Garden, Wake Co West Side Foundation Planting in Cabarrus County Woodland Backyard Garden Walk
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Asclepias
- Species:
- tuberosa
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Has been used medicinally in herbal medicine in small doses
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and southern United States
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers are a nectar source for many butterflies and insect pollinators. The plant is a larval host plant for monarch (which appear in the spring and summer and may have one to three broods in the north and four to six broods in the south), gray hairstreak, queen, and milkweed tussock moth caterpillars.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is resistant to damage by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Dehiscent 4"-5" spindle-shaped follicle seed pods (3-6" long) release silky-tailed seeds which are dispersed by wind. Follicles, fusiformed, smooth, paired; seeds with silky, apical tuft of trichomes. Displays from August to September
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Crown
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Clusters of bright orange to yellow-orange flowers atop upright to reclining hairy stems. The flowers have five sepals, five petals, and five stamens. Deadheading flowers ensures more blooms throughout the season. Axillary, in flat-topped cymose, several-flowered. orange, with some yellowish to vermillion tinges; sepals 5; corolla small, rotate, 5-lobed to 8 mm long; corona conspicuous of 5 "hood lobes" consisting of a hood and incurved horn (hood appendage); stamens 5, fused into a column. Blooms from May to August.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Lance-shaped to narrowly egg-shaped leaves scattered singly along the stem; to 4 in. long, reclining, ascending to somewhat erect, hairy stems that branch toward the summit. Alternate and loosely spiraling, simple, narrow lanceolate to oblong, acute to obtuse, sessile to minutely-petiolate, hispidulous pubescent, 2"-6" long x 1/4"-1" wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Rabbits
- Salt
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, and confusion if eaten in quantity. Milky sap can cause contact dermatitis and eye irritation.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cardiac glycosides and resinoids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Stems
